Operation Walk USA

St. Mary’s Regional Joint Replacement Center to provide free hip and knee replacements to three patients as part of expanded Operation Walk USA

(HUNTINGTON)—During the week of Dec. 2, orthopedic surgeons at St. Mary’s Regional Joint Replacement Center will provide free hip and knee replacements to three patients from the Tri-State as part of Operation Walk USA.

Currently in its third year, Operation Walk USA, an independent medical charitable organization, provides all aspects of knee and hip replacement treatment—surgery, hospitalization, and pre-and post-operative care—at no cost to patients who may not qualify for government assistance, have no insurance or cannot afford surgery on their own.

Kyle R. Hegg, MD, Steven C.Lochow, MD, and Vivek S. Neginhal. MD, of Scott Orthopedic Center and St. Mary’s Regional Joint Replacement Center, will each perform a surgery as part of Operation Walk USA. Drs. Neginhal and Lochow will perform hip replacements and Dr. Hegg will perform a knee replacement. St. Mary’s will also provide hospitalization and pre- and post-operative care to these patients at no charge. In addition, ALL MED in Huntington will donate durable medical equipment for all three patients. The patients were referred through Ebenezer Medical Outreach.

“Operation Walk USA is a wonderful effort and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Christy Franklin, director of the St. Mary’s Regional Joint Replacement Center. “We are excited to be able to give back to our community by helping restore mobility to these three people.”

Operation Walk USA is a volunteer effort on behalf of more than 120 volunteer orthopedic surgeons and 70 participating hospitals in 32 states. This year, the program has been expanded from one day to the entire first week of December, beginning on Monday, December 2, to allow more hospitals, surgeons and patients to participate.

An estimated 120 orthopedic surgeons will treat more than 230 patients—twice the number of patients and orthopedic surgeons in Operation Walk USA in 2011, the first year of the program.

“Joint replacement surgery is one of the most life changing medical procedures available,” said Kyle Hegg, MD, medical director of St. Mary’s Regional Joint Replacement Center. “We are honored to be able to provide, through Operation Walk USA, these life improving procedures to three Tri-State area residents who otherwise would not be able to receive them.”

Arthritic disease is the most common cause of disability in the U.S., affecting approximately 48 million Americans, or more than 21 percent of the adult population. The debilitating pain of end-stage hip or knee degenerative disease often makes working, or completing even the simplest of daily tasks, excruciatingly painful or impossible. Hip and knee replacement surgeries are the most cost-effective and successful of all orthopedic procedures, eliminating pain and allowing patients to resume active, productive lives.

Operation Walk USA began in 2011 following the tremendous success of Operation Walk, an international volunteer medical service organization that provides treatment for patients with arthritis and joint conditions throughout the world. To date, more than 6,000 patients have received new knees and hips through the International Operation Walk, and nearly 300 patients through Operation Walk USA in 2011 and 2012.